Paying Up

The truth is, and I can’t say why,
But I love Canton, MO still.
This place exposed my worst,
And broke my will,
Is that why I love them?

I have to get away, to restore
To my children what is lost.
This place of fist, of teeth,
Has acquired a severe cost
Their childhood has eaten.

I am more alone than ever before
And the weight is solely mine to bear
But I must do what must be done-
Whatever it takes to care
For my brood, as best I can.

I don’t understand
The loss of this run,
This profound tragedy,
There’s so much I should have done
To protect them better.

But I am committed
To preserving the last years
Of their innocence
Engaging them beyond fear
With the world outside.

They are all that matter now,
All that ever did.